IoT in smart campus environments is revolutionizing the way colleges and universities operate, enabling smarter energy management, enhanced security, and richer student experiences across campus.<\/p>\n
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes a network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and connected devices that communicate and exchange data over the internet. When applied to higher education, smart campus IoT technology allows institutions to automate campus operations, optimize real-time occupancy and HVAC systems, strengthen access control, and streamline everything from package delivery to smart parking.<\/p>\n
This article covers the key ways IoT is transforming college campuses, including:<\/p>\n
IoT technologies are one of the fastest-growing emerging technologies in higher education<\/a>. IoT describes the network of physical objects \u2014 “things” \u2014 that are embedded with sensors, software, and other smart technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging IoT data with other connected devices and systems over the internet. These smart devices range from ordinary household objects such as your refrigerator to sophisticated industrial tools such as manufacturing lines. The number of IoT-connected smart technology devices is expected to skyrocket to over 75 billion by 2025.1<\/sup> The “why” behind IoT device technology is that connecting the physical with the digital enables better communication, data analysis, and analytics-based decision-making. Understanding these IoT use cases is essential for any institution looking to build a more connected campus.<\/p>\n When a university creates environments where IoT technology and humans can interact, they can create a more immersive campus life experience for students, staff, and instructors \u2014 one that makes student engagement and interactions on-site or on a digital campus much more fulfilling.2<\/sup><\/p>\n As Deloitte suggests, a strategic intelligent campus framework fosters a connected ecosystem to achieve desired outcomes.3<\/sup> It, therefore, foresees a better financial aid experience, for example, which reduces wait times, avoids data errors, deploys chatbots, and automates the entire process \u2014 much to student delight.<\/p>\n As EDUCAUSE advocates: “No longer can institutions dictate the terms and conditions of students’ educational experiences and outcomes. Institutions will be optimizing their offerings to meet students’ needs.”5<\/sup> To put it simply, the student experience matters.<\/p>\n Examples of marrying IoT technology with the campus experience abound. Southern New Hampshire University earns high marks for teaching architecture through the lens of a 3D holographic model. And Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has created a revolutionary and immersive way to teach Mandarin. Students learn this Chinese dialect within a virtual computer-generated street scene and by conversing with avatars. As one successful student explains: “I thought it would be cheesy. It’s definitely more engaging because you’re actively involved with what’s going on.”6<\/sup><\/p>\n Other higher education institutions are taking a page from shopping malls and installing kiosks brimming with information from maps to events to promotions. It’s not only better for the environment (no more flyers attached to corkboards), but better for student engagement and more pertinent as well. In fact, a recent survey from TrouDigital found that 95% of students and recent graduates believe “digital displays are beneficial for student communication”.7<\/sup><\/p>\n IoT devices can influence school campuses in many simple but informative ways. Connecting smart campus IoT systems<\/a> into one platform, for instance, paints a richer picture of available information; it can also help an intelligent campus streamline and automate systems. If, for example, a student walked into an empty building, they would first unlock the smart classroom, turn on the lights, and perhaps adjust the temperature using just one device. With the smart building’s energy, utilities, and locks connected to one IoT network, once a key fob opens the classroom door, the lights, HVAC systems, and even security cameras can automatically adjust based on real-time occupancy data. This allows the university to not only provide a smart classroom experience but also create a smart building.<\/p>\n IoT applications in university environments can be found around the country and in different aspects of operations. Arizona State University, for example, has recently undertaken a $300 million football stadium renovation that includes smart sensors that leverage IoT data to alert management about energy consumption.8 The system even includes information about concession sales! As another example, The University of Texas at Austin is running the largest microgrid in America. The microgrid manages and provides all the electricity, heat, and cooling on site, creating a perfect example of an energy-efficient smart campus initiative.<\/p>\n An often overlooked but key friction point is college parking lots. With interconnected cameras, IoT sensors, and radar services, facilities management can create smart parking lots that monitor and direct traffic via kiosks or apps to available lots or spaces. Smart parking systems are especially valuable on large campuses where locating an open space can cost students and faculty valuable time.<\/p>\n However, IoT solutions can extend beyond energy-efficient campus infrastructure and smart parking. The past two years brought distinct challenges to college security teams: enforcing mask mandates and social distancing, keeping students and faculty safe, screening entry to the smart classroom and buildings, and monitoring public safety during various on-campus gatherings. Smart campus IoT technology emerged as a partial solution by replacing physical keys with touchless electronic access control options, leveraging emergency notification systems to keep communities abreast of rapidly changing health and safety guidelines, and upgrading and integrating video surveillance systems with thermal sensors to monitor occupancy in real time across smart classroom and smart building environments.<\/p>\n Other than implementing smart campus IoT solutions, many higher education institutions also embraced smart lockers. Most smart lockers at higher educational institutions were originally installed to serve as parcel locker<\/a> solutions and assist in secure package delivery and retrieval. Today, these college campus amenities are being deployed in ways beyond the mail.<\/p>\n From streamlining bookstore operations to simplifying on-campus deliveries, smart lockers offer a wide range of benefits. Through IoT integration, a smart locker system becomes a fully contactless delivery and pick-up point that can be leveraged for the distribution of documents, laptops, keys, library books, move-in materials, and more.<\/p>\n With unpredictable schedules for students, faculty, and staff, a smart locker solution<\/a> can act as a safe and secure delivery hub on a truly connected campus. Parcel Pending by Quadient’s Campus Hub\u2122, for instance, features built-in intelligent hardware that provides full chain-of-custody for all goods and assets distributed and received across campus.<\/p>\n The way this smart campus technology solution works is simple: parcels are sorted, coded, and delivered to a secure electronic locker. Recipients are then notified by email or text that a package has been delivered to a locker. Students, staff, and faculty can then simply scan a barcode and open their locker in as little as 10 seconds.<\/p>\n The ultimate goal of the digital transformation of college campuses is to implement a smart campus strategy that builds a fully digital technology-enabled higher education institution that improves the student experience (both on-campus and on the digital campus) while boosting safety and operational efficiency. Using a smart locker solution for campus deliveries meets all of the objectives of a smart campus. To find out more, contact a Parcel Pending by Quadient representative today<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sources:<\/strong><\/p>\n IoT in smart campus environments is revolutionizing the way colleges and universities operate, enabling smarter energy management, enhanced security, and richer student experiences across campus. The Internet of Things (IoT) describes a network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and connected devices that communicate and exchange data over the internet. When applied to higher […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-university"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow IoT Influences the Student Experience On-Campus<\/h2>\n
How IoT Influences Campus Operations<\/h2>\n
How IoT Influences Campus Security<\/h2>\n
Leveraging Smart Lockers for a Campus Hub\u2122 Delivery Network<\/h2>\n
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